Tanner Lee Declares for NFL Draft

Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee will enter the 2018 NFL Draft, foregoing his final year of collegiate eligibility.

“After weeks of prayer and consideration with my family, I’ve decided to enter the NFL Draft and pursue an opportunity that I feel is the best for myself and my family at this time,” Lee wrote in a post he shared to Twitter.

After transferring to Nebraska from Tulane following the 2015 season, Lee started all 12 games for the Huskers in 2017, throwing for 3,143 yards with a 129.4 passer rating. Lee finished the season second in the Big Ten in yardage and fourth in touchdown passes (23), but it was a campaign that was marked by the negative more than the positive.

Lee threw a conference-leading 16 interceptions and struggled with consistency throughout most of the season. He completed just 57.5 percent of his passes and finished with a 61.1 QBR, ranking No. 54 in the nation.

Entering the year, Lee had plenty of hype. National writers loved the NFL quarterback attributes – the size, arm strength and decision making – and throughout most of fall camp, local media saw the goods too. Lee just struggled to match the hype once the season began.

With Mike Riley – the coach who brought Lee to Lincoln – let go at the conclusion of a 4-8 season and Scott Frost entering the fray, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Lee's departure. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound, pocket-passing quarterback would have struggled to fit into Frost's up-tempo scheme.

The Huskers currently have three scholarship quarterbacks left on roster with redshirt sophomore Patrick O'Brien, redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia and incoming freshman Adrian Martinez.